Thank you to the wonderful Marta at Lemuel MC for the photography and fabulous linen clothes.
Selected Exhibitions
2024 Fight Flight or Freeze, Kafka Projects at Pictorem Gallery, London, 8th - 25th May Find out more here
2024 SFSA Drawing Open 2024, no format Gallery, London, 10th - 12th & 16th - 19th May Find out more here
2023 Wayfaring, solo show, Fitzrovia Gallery, London Find out more here
2023 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2023, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 13th June - 20th August
2023 SFSA Drawing Open 2023, no format gallery, London
2023 London Trees, curated by Ferha Farooqui, Frank Creber and Tim Craven, Lauderdale House, London
2022 A Sense of Place, curated by Philippa Beale, Bermondsey Project Space, London
2022 Open Studios, ArtHub, London
2021 New English Art Club Annual Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2020 ING Discerning Eye 2020 (invited by David Remfry RA), virtual exhibition
2020 Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London
2020 Derwent Art Prize 2020, virtual exhibition
2019 Somewhere In-Between, curated by Foster Spragge, Brixton Library, London
2019 ArtHub open studios, London
2019 Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London (Hugh Casson Drawing Prize winner)
2019 Deptford Foundry Open Studios Launch Event, London (guest artist)
2018 No Format Gallery Painting Open, No Format Gallery, London
2018 Drawn to London, curated by Philippa Beale, Bermondsey Project Space, London
2018 150 Years of the Arts in Dalston, Print House Gallery, Dalston, London
2018 Jacksons Open Painting Prize finalists' exhibition at Hampstead Affordable Art Fair, London
2017 Last Christmas I Gave you my Art, Art Hub Gallery, London
2017 David Gluck Memorial /Discerning Eye Drawing Bursary finalists' exhibition, Mall Galleries, London (Runner Up Prize winner)
2017 Drawings at the Triforium - an exhibition of selected finalists from the Discerning Eye Drawing Bursary, Triforium Space, Temple Church, London
2017 Studio Show, The Chocolate Factory N16, London
2016 Derwent Art Prize, Mall Galleries, London and on tour throughout the UK
2016 Winter Open Studios, Chocolate Factory N16, London
2015 David Gluck Memorial /Discerning Eye Drawing Bursary finalists' exhibition, Mall Galleries, London (Runner Up Prize winner)
2015 Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2015, Mall Galleries, London
2015 Winter & Summer Open Studios, Chocolate Factory N16, London
2014 Acquired drawing exhibited in permanent collection, Painting Galleries, Museum of the Home, London
2014 East West Art Award, the Galleria, London (Encouragement Prize winner)
2014 Tomorrow's Achievers Charity Auction, Queen Victoria's Rifles HQ, London
2014 Winter & Summer Open Studios, Chocolate Factory N16, London
2013 The Sunday Times Watercolour Competition, Mall Galleries, London and Guildford House Gallery
2013 Dalston drawing on long term loan, exhibited within the permanent display, Hackney Museum, London
2013 Winter & Summer Open Studios, Chocolate Factory N16, London
2012 Threadneedle Prize Exhibition, Mall Galleries, London
2012 Mapping the Change, Hackney Museum, London
2012 Hackney Cypriot Association, London, Adopt a Shop initiative, led by Muf Architecture/Art, design by the Imaginary Rock Foundation
2012 Pastel Society Open, Mall Galleries, London
2012 Winter & Summer Open Studios, Chocolate Factory N16, London
2011/12 Archaeology of urban time: drawing Dalston, Museum of the Home, London (solo show)
2011 Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London
2011 Creekside Open, selected by Dexter Dalwood, APT Gallery, London
2011 Local, Karin Janssen Project Space, London
2011 Winter Open Studios, Chocolate Factory N16, London
2010 Overground Uncovered: Life Along the Line, London Transport Museum
2010 Dalston Voices, Hackney Museum, London
2009 Phenomena of Change, Dalston Square, London (solo show; catalogue)
2009 CUBE Open (Centre for the Urban Built Environment), Manchester
2009 Winter & Summer Open Studios, Chocolate Factory N16, London
2008 David Gluck Memorial Bursary for Drawing, The Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London (First Prize Winner)
2008 Regeneration in London Engaging with Communities, The Building Centre, London
2008 Nouvelles Oeuvres, La Galerie Vendome, Paris
2008 Winter & Summer Open Studios, Chocolate Factory N16, London
2006 Expositions du Cinquantenaire, La Galerie Vendome, Paris (catalogue)
2006 Open House London 2006, The Galleria, London
2005 Alexandra Blum, La Galerie Vendome, Paris (solo show)
2005 Mapping Paris, Espace Henri Gilbert, Paris (solo show)
2004 The Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London
2004 Triple Take, Embassy of Japan, London
2004 Living for the City, Blue Wing Gallery, London
2003 Into the Wilderness, Stroud House Gallery, Stroud
2002 One Year, Searcy’s, Barbican Centre, London (solo show)
2002 Drawings for All, Gainsborough's House, Suffolk
2002 Nexus, East 73rd Gallery, London
2001 Trapex Launch Show, Trapex Studios, London
2001 Created Space, Whiteley's London
1999 Juncture, Daiwa Anglo Japanese Foundation, London (solo show)
1998 Two Artists Kyoto - TAK Building, Kyoto, Japan
1998 Cheltenham Open Drawing Exhibition - Cheltenham, Berlin, Hull
Awards and Commissions
2019 The Hugh Casson Drawing Prize, Summer Exhibition, Royal Academy London – Winner
2018 Jackson's Open Painting Prize - Finalist
2018 Contemporary British Painting Prize - Longlist
2017 David Gluck Memorial /Discerning Eye Drawing Bursary 2017 - Runner Up prize Winner
2016 Contemporary British Painting Prize - Longlist
2016 Pastel Society Open - Longlist
2015 David Gluck Memorial /Discerning Eye Drawing Bursary 2015 - Runner Up prize Winner
2015 Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize 2015 – Shortlist
2014 East West Art Award - Encouragement Prize Winner
2013 Micro Artist-in-Residence project, on a construction site for RUDE
2012 Oppenheim - John Downes Memorial Award 2012 - Winner
2011 British Association of Mext Scholars Grant
2008-10 Artist in Residence, Dalston Square Construction Site, London
2008 David Gluck Memorial Bursary for Drawing - First Prize Winner
2007 Celeste Art Prize 2007 – Shortlist
1998-9 Studio Residency Award - The Florence Trust, London
1996-8 Mext Scholar in Painting - Kyoto City University of Arts, Japan
1995 NatWest Prize for Art – Shortlist
1992-5 John Christie Prize; Hatton Prize; Sculpture Prize; University of Newcastle-u-tyne - Winner
Writing
2022 ‘Alexandra Blum Easel Words’, The Jackdaw, Independent Views on the Visual Arts, Nov/Dec 2022, No. 166, p.11 © 2022.
2020 'Drawing to see more', within 'Architectural Learning Resource', Public Programme, Courtauld Institute of Art
2020 'Drawing beyond the confines of perspective', within 'Architectural Learning Resource'', Public Programme, Courtauld Institute of Art
2020 'Draw to discover detail and space', an exploration of spatial experience within the Seilern Triptych, Public Programme, Courtauld Institute of Art
2018 'Self Portraiture and the Exploration of Self', text and visual contribution based around Van Gogh's 'Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear' within 'Portrait Education tool', Public Programme, Courtauld Institute of Art
2016 Review of the exhibition 'Joseph Cornell: Wanderlust', Royal Academy of Arts, London, 4 July – 27 September 2015. Published in the Journal of Illustration, Volume 3 Number 1, August 2016
Lectures/Workshops & Presentations
2022 ‘Leon Kossoff: Moving through the City’, drawing and history of art workshop, online, Public Programme, Courtauld Institute of Art
2022 ‘Van Gogh Exploring Self’, drawing workshops, online, Public Programme, Courtauld Institute of Art
2022 ‘Cityscapes’ drawing and history of art online workshop, Public Programme, Courtauld Institute of Art
2021 Guest speaker at Dr Glenn Sujo's online event 'Learning Pathways: An Education in the Arts II'
2021 ‘Van Gogh Exploring Self’, drawing workshops, online ,Public Programme, Courtauld Institute of Art
2021 ‘Cityscape’s drawing and history of art online workshop, Public Programme, Courtauld Institute of Art
2020 Architectural Learning Resource Launch, Teachers' CPD event online, Public Programme, Courtauld Institute of Art
2020 Urban drawing workshops in Coventry for Regional Heritage Programme, Courtauld Insitute of Art
2020 'Coventry Open 2020', member of judging panel, the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry
2019 'Radical Drawing in Conversation: Linda Karshan and Alexandra Blum', the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry
2019 'Insights into Cezanne' drawing and history of art workshop, with Helen Higgins and Kate Edmundson, Public Programme, Courtauld Institute of Art
2019 'Insights into Cityscapes' drawing and history of art workshop in collaboration with Francesca Herrick and Helen Higgins, Public Programme, Courtauld Institute of Art
2019 'Tracing Time' drawing and history of art workshop, Public Programme, Courtauld Institute of Art
2019 ‘Journeys through the City' six week urban drawing course focussing on the Eastern Cluster area, The City Centre, London
2019 'Unfolding Space' presentation as part of Tickbird & Rhino's Emergence Working Group
2019 'Revealing the Self: Van Gogh Colour and Mark' drawing and art history workshop for patrons, Development Department, Courtauld Institute of Art, London
2019 'Architecture: Somerset House Insights' drawing and art history workshop in collaboration with Helen Higgins and Francesca Herrick, Public Programme Courtauld Institute of Art
2018 ‘Insights into Perspective and Beyond’ pop up history of art and drawing workshop, in collaboration with Helen Higgins at ResFest 2018, Courtauld Gallery, London
2018 'Navigating the City: Canaletto, architecture and perspective', drawing and history of art workshop in collaboration with Helen Higgins, Public Programme, Courtauld Institute London
2017 'Canaletto and Urban Drawing', drawing and history of art course, Royal Collection Trust, The Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London
2017 'Layers of London', drawing and history of art workshop, in collaboration with Helen Higgins, Francesca Herrick & Tom Bilson, Public Programme, Courtauld Institute of Art, London
2017 'Passages of space', drawing workshop, on location by the Thames in Rotherhithe for Writtle University College
2017 'Perspective and Beyond', drawing and history of art workshop, in collaboration with Helen Higgins, Public Programme, Courtauld Institute of Art, London
2017 'Visualising space and time in painting and drawing', Artist's Talk, Islington Art Society
2017 'Rodin, Movement and Time', drawing and history of art workshop for Camberwell BA1 Drawing Students, Public Programme, Courtauld Institute of Art, London
2016 'Cezanne: architectural spaces' , drawing and history of art workshop, in collaboration with Helen Higgins, Public Programme, Courtauld Institute of Art, London
2016 'Unfolding Space - urban spatial structures and the passage of time in painting and drawing', lecture, University of Gloucestershire
2016 'Movement through time and space', drawing workshop on location by the Thames in Rotherhithe for Writtle University College
2016 Visiting artist, group tutorials/crit, Islington Art Society
2016 'Relational space and flux' drawing workshop for Acme Architects, on location in streets of Shoreditch, London
2016 'Encountering Urban Space' , drawing workshops, Minesweeper Collective
2016 'Movement through Time & Space' drawing workshop, on location in Cheltenham, for the University of Gloucestershire
2015 ‘Spatial Structures in Landscape Painting 1450 - 1890’, tour at The National Gallery, London for the University of Gloucestershire
2015 'Encountering Urban Space' , drawing workshop, on location, Minesweeper Collective
2015 'Mapping Space' , drawing workshop, on location by the Thames in Rotherhithe for Writtle College
2014 ‘Spatial Structures in Landscape Painting 1450 - 1890’, tour at The National Gallery, London for the University of East London
2014 'Mapping Space', drawing workshop, on location by the Thames in Rotherhithe for Writtle College
2014 ‘Spatial Structures in Landscape Painting 1450 - 1890’, tour at The National Gallery, London for Writtle College
2014 'Movement through Time & Space' , drawing workshop, on location at Moorgate for RedR, Creativity & Learning training away day
2013 ‘Spatial Structures in Landscape Painting 1450 - 1890’, tour at The National Gallery, London for the University of East London
2013 'Movement through Time & Space' and 'Marking Space', drawing workshops, on location by the Thames at Rotherhithe, London, for Writtle College, MA Landscape Architecture
2013 'Movement through Time & Space' , drawing workshop, on location at King's Cross Station for Writtle College, MA Landscape Architecture
2012 ‘Spatial Structures in Landscape Painting 1450 - 1890’, tour at The National Gallery, London for the University of East London
2012 ‘Spatial Perception and Visual Memory: Art Meets Robotics’, Artist's talk and discussion with robotics scientist Ed Johns, hosted by Ideas Matter Sphere
2012 ‘Archaeology of urban time: Drawing Dalston’, Artist's Talk, Dalston C.L.R James Library and Hackney Archive
2011 ‘Movement through time and space’, drawing workshop, Museum of the Home, London
2011 ‘Archaeology of urban time: Drawing Dalston’, Artist's Talk, Museum of the Home/Camberwell College of Arts
2010 ‘Phenomena of Change: Drawing Dalston’, Artist's Talk, Hackney Museum
2010 ‘Drawing Dalston’, Artist's Talk EDAW/AECOM Design & Planning
2010 ‘Drawing Dalston’ lecture and tutorials, University of Creative Arts, Maidstone
2010 ‘Phenomena of Change’, Artist's Talk, City & Islington Sixth Form College
2006-9 Visiting lecturer and drawing workshops, MA Landscape Architecture, University of East London
2009 Dalston Square artist residency presentations to London Borough of Hackney and Design For London
Bibliography
'Royal Academy Summer Show: prizes for Threefold and Tonkin Liu', Richard Waite, Architects Journal, 25 June 2019
'Courtauld Artists at work: Alexandra Blum', Courtauld Gallery blog,1 June 2018
Alexandra Blum, Elinor Perry-Smith, SEEN London, 5 Dec 2016
Liminal London: the transformative art of Alexandra Blum, Elinor Perry-Smith, SEEN London, 12 Sept 2016
Shortlist announced for the third Derwent Art Prize, Mark Westall, FADmagazine.com, July 26 2016
Gallery: Architecture, A close up look at paintings and drawings by artists exploring architecture and cityscapes, James Hobbs, Discover Art, Issue 1, Nov 2013
London Art: Alexandra Blum's Dalston Square at the Geffrye Museum, Matt Brown, The Londonist, 16 Jan 2012
Haute Living.com, Julia Jacobo, 16 Jan 2012
A change of art: digging Dalston, exhibition review, Joe Miller, Hackney Citizen, Nov 2011
Archaeology of urban time: drawing Dalston - Time Out, 30 November 2011
Archaeology of urban time: drawing Dalston - Axis News Bulletin, Oct 2011 Archaeology of urban time: drawing Dalston - londonartistsquarter.org/events Sept 2011
Conflicting demands, Andrew Lambirth, The Spectator, 11 June 2011
Live at Your Local, exhibition review, Charlie Clarke, July 2010
Sponsor's selection, Art London Catalogue, Oct 2009
Phenomena of Change Catalogue text, Professor John Milner, July 2009
Phenomena of Change exhibition review, Herbert Wright, Le Cool, 2 July 2009
Drawings Reveal Dalston's Future, Dalston People, July 2009
Phenomena of Change exhibition preview, OPEN Dalston What's On July 2009
Dalston becomes Magnet for Artists, London Property News, 10 July 2009
Momoyama Influences, Webmagazine, Embassy of Japan, Feb-March 2007 Issue
Retour sur Images, Massy ma Ville, Catherine Roussellet, Issue No. 96, Oct 2005
Cityscapes, Picture Britain, BBCi, 8 June 2005
Discovering the Mystique of Urban Space, Kunstinvestor, Heinz van der Wehd, Mar 2005
Triple Take, Mainichi Shimbun, Govinda Finn 19 May 2004
On Japan Issue No. 727, May/June 2004
Laburnum Pilot, drawings feature Sept 2004
Artist at Work, BBC Video Nation, 2004
Collections
Museum of the Home, London
Hackney Museum, London (long term loan)
Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust, London (long term loan)
And numerous private collections.
Education
1996-8 Mext post graduate research scholarship - painting, Kyoto City University of Arts, Japan (Awarded by the Japanese Ministry of Education).
1992-6 BA Hons Fine Art - Newcastle University 2:1 (dissertation 1st Class)
1991 Foundation in Art & Design - Brighton College of Art & Technology (distinction)